Participating in Teacher Appreciation Week, young people across Grand Valley express gratitude to area educators who strive to “teach students to their fullest potential.”

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Dear Mr. Kennedy,

Thank you for always understanding and always being there for me. I remember last year in sixth grade when you said if I ever needed help with my schoolwork, you would do everything you could to help me. Even though I would come to you at the last minute, you kept your word.

You are one of those teachers that would take the time to know students and how they learn better, so that you could teach students to their fullest potential. Any student could get along with you because you wouldn’t freak out on one mistake. Any student would be lucky for you to teach them.

I remember last year, I was failing most of my classes and you said if I can dig myself out and go to the dance that you would pay my way in. You owed me $3 the day of the dance.

You have helped me in more than just my schoolwork, but you also taught me that no matter how bad something is that I get myself into, I can always do anything if I set my mind to do it.

Your student,
Trista Claypoole

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Dear Mrs. Corduban,

Thank you, Mrs. Corduban, for helping me learn the multiplication facts. They are really important in third grade.

One of the most fun things in second grade was science, because I learned a lot about plants. I also enjoyed the field trip to the island. I remember we had a picnic with all the kids and our families.

Another thing I liked about second grade was you, Mrs. Corduban. You are the most special person in second grade.

Sincerely,
Maribel

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Dear Mrs. McPhail,

Do you remember me? My name is Eduardo Serna. You were my teacher in 5th grade. You are the best teacher I ever had in my life. You helped me with my work when I needed help. You taught me how to write in cursive, but I kind of hated cursive. It was hard, but I was always good in your class.

Do you remember the Friday before Easter? You hid some eggs, and we could only find one. It was fun. I always had fun in your class.

One thing that I am most thankful for is for helping me pass the fifth grade. If it wasn’t for you, I would have never passed the fifth grade.

I hope I can see you again one of these days. Thank you, Mrs. McPhail.

Sincerely,
Eduard Serna

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Dear Mr. Pollard,

You are the best teacher who always has a good story up your sleeve. You never interrupt a student talking and you always listen. I don’t know of a better teacher who can teach and make jokes at the same time. You always know what you are going to say because you never say “uh.”

When you teach, you always tell it so that all the students understand what you are teaching. There is never a time when your class is boring.

When there is a substitute, the class goes by very slowly, but when you are there, we beg for more time with you. So, I say that you, Mr. Pollard, deserve appreciation.

Proud student,
Michael Downs

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Dear Mrs. David,

You were one of my favorite teachers for second-grade and for PE.

I remember how when we would all get green cards that day you would do the boogie dance. I specifically remember one time a teacher walked into your room while you were doing the dance and you just froze. That was very funny.

I loved learning all of those dances. I still remember the cha-cha slide. PE became really fun and something to look forward to.

Thank you!
Audrey Jones

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Dear Ms. Valerio,

You are my inspiration. You always made learning fun, so I liked going to school. You made learning easy and not confusing. You even broke down words I didn’t know to help me understand them when we had our reading groups.

When you taught us things that we needed to know, you made fun songs and sayings so that we wouldn’t forget what you taught us. You knew how important our education and success was.

Ms. Valerio, you made me feel smart and important as an individual because when I didn’t understand something you gave me help and never gave up on me. You always made every student feel equal and never had favorites.

Since you were so outgoing and open-minded, you never had troubles teaching. You were funny, but only when the time was appropriate! You were also very caring about never giving up on your students and teaching us until the end.

Love,
Emma Harvey

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Dear Mr. Cooper,

Thank you for being such a good, hard worker. I think I have liked your class the most out of the year. You make PE and learning so much fun!

Sincerely,
Tyler Hancock

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Dear Mrs. Hexom,

You are one of the best teachers I have ever had! You help me get my grades up, and you got me in a class that helps me get my homework done. You are the only teacher that ever helped me with my grades.

You are very nice to me and to everyone else, too. You are very beautiful and funny, too! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Angel Hombach

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Dear Mr. Henderson,

You have been the best PE teacher ever. You always want us to push ourselves to the fullest, and whenever we were out of line you would put us back in line.

I want to be an All State just like you. I would love to be an All State. I appreciate your patience with me, and thank you.

Sincerely,
Louis Guillen

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Dear Ms. Haley.

You made my seventh-grade year wonderful. Having you as my Language Arts teacher was so much fun, because you can connect so well with your students. Thank you so much for making Language Arts class fun.

Sincerely,
Shania Schortzmann

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Dear Mr. Davis,

You were one of my favorite teachers in Scenic Elementary School. I always looked forward to music every day. A few of my favorite parts of the class were singing, voting for American Idols and playing fun instruments. I think that your class was the best, and I was very sad to leave. I will always remember you.

Sincerely,
Falen Gaines

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Dear Ms. Ward,

You and I had a great relationship as I evolved through fifth grade at Wingate Elementary. You also gave every student a chance and an understanding of learning that they will take on in the future.

You made everything so easy to understand and gave great concepts for me to bring to sixth grade.

Thank you, Ms. Ward, for the relationship we gained and for the great year of fifth grade.

Colton Chamberlain

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Dear Mrs. Bohall,

You are the best teacher I have had. You helped me with math when I didn’t understand it. Learning was fun with you. You took us outside a lot, but it was mostly during Science.

You are one of the nicest teachers I have ever had. When we didn’t understand something, you explained in detail, getting a lot of work done in a short time. You pointed out hard questions and helped us out. You made me feel that everything I did was good.

You’re the best teacher I had!

Sincerely,
Joey Jimenez

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Dear Mrs. Durkop,

You were the best teacher I ever had, because you would be hard on me, not a softy.

I had you for two years at Fruitvale Elementary, and you could say I was a teacher’s pet back then, because you were nice to me. For example, you said “Jordan, since you’re going on to 5th grade, I’m putting Manuel in the same class, because I know you guys are close friends. Good luck with everything there.”

Well, here I am three years later in 7th grade with an A+ in AVID.

Sincerely,
Herlendo Jordan Robles

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